Using Routes

How to use split and extend - an example.

Hm…a bit of a miss in the planning. An islet with a shallow bank extending southward on our route. We put two marks north of the obstruction and would like to include these in our route.

The waypoint west of the islet is #2. We mark this in “Route Properties”, from the right-click menu. The Button “Split Route” is highlighted, meaning it is available to use. This is exactly what we want to do, so we click the button and split the route at wpt #2.

Right click at #2 and choose “Append Waypoint”,

Move the cursor to the first triangle, and answer yes to “Use nearby waypoint?”.
Then move the cursor to the second triangle , and answer yes to “Use nearby waypoint?”.
Same thing for the original wpt to the east of the islet.

Click “Activate Route” to see that this extension worked. For more detail see Activating Routes

Once again mark “Route Properties” in the right-click dialog. #3 is the last wpt in our “new” temporary route. The “Extend Route” button is highlighted, so we click it.

Open the Route Manager to view the result. Notice the naming of the routes. _B_plus is active. What remains is to delete route _B and to rename _B_plus to a suitable name, for example the name of your original route.

Deleting route _B.

And here is the finally adjusted route.

This was just an exercise…..in real life, it would be easier to just move the existing waypoints in the route, to avoid the Islet.

Here is a summary of recent changes (for editors to improve this section with illustrations) see the bottom of this tracker item

PR here: https://github.com/OpenCPN/OpenCPN/pull/2211

The right-click context menu has a new option : Split ….

As an example let's start with a route namex with the points A;B;C;D

If we right-click on the point B,
then select “split at waypoint” the route becomes:
First route namex-A with A;B and
Second route namex_B with B;C;D
This is exactly what does the split function in the route properties dialog

If we right-click on the leg B to C,
then select “split around leg” the route becomes:
First route namex_A with A;B and
Second route namex_B with C;D
In this case the leg clicked B to C has disappeared

New PR Merged https://github.com/OpenCPN/OpenCPN/pull/2375#issuecomment-922271803

Summary: Combine routes by dropping begin or end of route onto another route.

1. By dragging the first point of a route onto a point of another route (the connection point). The question will be asked: “Replace this RoutePoint by the nearby Waypoint?” Answer “Yes” and the question appears: “(Part of) Route to be inserted in the dragged route?”. Answer “Yes” and the route part from the start of the other route until the connection point will be inserted into the beginning of the dragged route.
2. By dragging the end point of a route onto a point of another route. The question will be asked: “Replace this RoutePoint by the nearby Waypoint?” Answer “Yes” and the question appears: “(Part of) Route to be appended to dragged route?”. Answer “Yes” and the part of the other route from the connection point to the end will be appended to your route.
3. When making a new route and dropping the first waypoint of a new route on a waypoint of another route. The question will be asked: “Use nearby waypoint?”. Answer “Yes” and the question: “Insert (part of) this route in the new route?” will appear. Answer “Yes” again and the part of the other route from the start to the connection point will be inserted in the beginning of the new route.
4. When making a new route or appending waypoint(s) to an existing route. Drop the new waypoint (not the first one) onto a point of another route, the question appears: “Use nearby waypoint?”. Answer “Yes” and the question follows: “Append (part of) this route to the new route?”. Answer “Yes” again and part of the other route from the the connection point to the end will be appended to the route being made. Route making continues at the new last point of the route.

In the above the only route that is modified is the one that was dragged or appended. The other route remains as is. Both routes will share common waypoints. Changing (dragging) a common waypoint effects all routes the waypoint is part of.

In case the connection point is part of more routes, the first visual route is used for the append or insert. So better take care that there is only one route visibal in the point where you want to join the route. Otherwise hide the routes you do not want to use: Route & Mark manager, click the “eye” in front of the route.

Combine routes A and B. Drag endpoint of A on start of B. Click “Yes” twice. Route B will be appended to A. B will remain as is. Or: Drag startpoint of B on endpoint of A. Click “Yes” twice. Route A will be added (inserted) at the start of B. A will remain as is.

You have a long route that you want to keep. Call it route A. However in the middle part you want to make a detour. Start making a new route. Click the first waypoint of the new route on the point of route A where you want to start the detour. Insert the foregoing part of A in the new route (click “Yes”). Lay out your detour until you reach the point where you want to join route A again. Click on that point of A. Append the remaining part of A (click “Yes”). End making the route at the end of A. The new route you made is a route on its own. It shares common waypoints with A. If these waypoints are changed, both your new route and A will change.

Append a route with a waypoint that you drop onto the route itself. Click “Yes” to the append question. The route will be circular now and go round twice. Each time you click the new to append waypoint on the route itself you will append the whole route again and double the number of loops in the route. Sounds like a gimmick, but is consistent and might be used for racing tracks.